by Natalie Ann
“You made me wait out here like this on purpose,” he whispered when she gave him a little hug.
She giggled and winked. “This is a pleasant surprise. Why didn’t you tell me you were stopping? Thankfully I don’t have a client for another hour.”
“That’s good. I took a risk. Can we go back to your office and talk?”
She threaded her fingers through his and walked back to her office holding his hand. “Ladies, I know Chrissy told you all who this is, but I’ll make it official. This is my boyfriend, Troy, that you’ve all been hearing so much about. Troy, these are the girls. Say hi.”
“Hi,” he said and she took pity on him and moved to the back of the salon. “That was just cruel.”
“But funny,” she said. “And speaking of funny. Admit it, my red hair isn’t so bad now, is it?” She’d seen him eying some of the styles of not only her girls but some the clients too.
“I see that it could be worse. Though I don’t even notice your hair now. I just see you.”
“Ah, that’s so sweet.”
“I talked to Brian this morning,” he blurted out.
“You did? He finally called you?”
“No. I went to his house and scared the shit out of him. I was sitting in the living room when he walked downstairs after his shower.”
“I’m sure he didn’t appreciate that. But he didn’t kick you out, right?” He seemed in too good of a mood.
“No. We had a nice heart to heart. Why didn’t you tell me you went over there and yelled at him last week?”
She was surprised Brian ratted her out. “What did he say to you?”
“That you threw a bunch of statements at him of what you thought you deserved in a guy.”
“Oh,” she said. “I haven’t talked to him since then.”
“He said as much. But he also told me that it made him think and that he was being an ass. He and I came to terms. I told him I’d let you know and that you’d reach out to him later. He didn’t want to contact you until he knew that he and I were good now.”
She wrapped her arms around his waist and held on tight. “You guys really are okay now?”
“As good as we can be.”
“Are you going to tell me what was said?” she asked.
“You don’t need to know. Understand that though you’re my girlfriend, he’s still my best friend. We are all going to have to use discretion there.”
“Those had to be his words,” she said narrowing her eyes. That sounded like her brother’s lawyer speak.
“He and I agreed and I think it’d be wise for you too.”
“I’m just so happy now,” she said, kissing him again. She’d be even happier if he told her how he felt about her, but for now she’d take this win.
“I’m going to make you even happier,” he said leaning back.
“This is my place of business. I like a quickie as much as the next person, but my girls don’t hesitate to barge right in.”
“I wasn’t thinking that,” he said. “If you’ve got time, I could use a quick haircut.”
She pushed back out of his arms fast. “You love me. Say you love me.”
“What?” he asked, but he was smirking at her. “How is me asking for a haircut a declaration of love?”
“Come on, Troy. Think back to our first date. Remember the green hair conversation and how you said I wasn’t touching your hair? If you’re letting me do it now, then that has to mean you love me.”
“Maybe it means nothing more than it’s time for a change of style for me. That I’m not the boring person I always thought I was. Or maybe I don’t want to be that person anymore.” He tilted his head at her. “Do you love me?” he asked.
“Of course I do,” she said. “I’ve loved you since I was pestering you and Brian all those years ago. You just never realized it.”
“You couldn’t know you loved me back then,” he said.
“I had a wicked crush on you that grew to love the older I got. But I fell in love with you after our first date. How does that sound?”
“That sounds about right,” he said back.
“You know what sounds even better?” she asked.
“No, what?”
“That no one thought I’d ever end up with someone like you. Someone so different than me. I’d bet most felt the same about you. But none of that matters except what’s in our hearts. You’re in my heart, Troy. You always were.”
“I’ve spent a lot of my life looking for someone who understood me. I always thought that person had to be more like me, not just the opposite. I guess I thought wrong,” Troy said.
“But now it’s right. Right for both of us.”
“It is,” he agreed.
“And once I’m done with your hair, I’ve got one more thing to do today.”
Meena went to her brother’s office and walked in hoping he’d be there. “Hey,” she said after his secretary told her to go back.
“You talked to Troy,” he said to her.
“I did. I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For all those years I took things away from you when we were kids. I never thought much of it back then. I just wanted attention and looking back I realize now that I got it for all the wrong reasons and then those reasons ended up taking away from you. After I stormed out on you for asking if I deserved someone like Troy, it hit me that maybe you’d feel like you were losing what you had with him and I was gaining it.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
That he didn’t deny it told her he did feel that way. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”
“Because you were a kid acting like most younger siblings do.”
“But you defended me when I got older. You stood up for me. Why?”
“Because that is what older brothers do too. Just because I didn’t like your behavior back then didn’t mean I didn’t love you. It didn’t mean I would treat you any differently.”
“Are you really okay with Troy and me being together?” She had to hear it from his lips. She realized that her own happiness wouldn’t be complete if she was making her brother miserable.
“It’s going to take some time to get used to it, but I’ll be okay.”
“I’ll give you guys your space. You can still have your bro-time to do things. I won’t whine to you if Troy and I have a fight.”
He laughed and stood up to walk toward her. “You’ve never whined to me before when you had a fight with a boyfriend.”
“That’s true. I’ll do my best to remember you guys had a relationship first and that I’m not taking this away from you, but maybe enhancing what you’ve got?” she asked, hopeful.
“We’re all going to have to work on it. Myself more than you two. You’ve got each other to talk to.”
“And you’ve got me and you’ve got Troy. It’s the same thing, Brian, that it’s always been. Just a bit different.”
“That’s always been you anyway, right. Different?”
“Life would be boring otherwise. Aren’t you glad I’m here to spice up your existence?”
He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her tight. A hug she hadn’t felt from him since the day she graduated from Redken and he was so proud of her. “I’m more glad that you’re spicing up Troy’s life and I get to sit back and laugh while he tries to adjust to it.”
“That’s just mean,” she said punching his arm lightly.
“Just like an older brother should be.”
Epilogue
One year later
Meena turned her head when there was a knock at the door. Her mother walked forward to open it and Brian was standing there in his tux.
Her mom shook her head. “No one is supposed to see Meena just yet. That includes you.”
“Troy wanted me to bring this to Meena. He knows he can’t see her either.”
“Give it here,” her mother said, reaching her hands forward and shutting the door in Brian’s face.
�
��What is it?” Meena asked, pushing back from Angela who was in the process of styling her hair. Troy hadn’t seen her in a few days so he had no clue what he was in store for.
“I’m not sure,” her mother said.
Meena took the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a bouquet of blue roses in multiple shades with a few tiny red hearts strategically placed throughout.
“Meena, those are beautiful,” Angela said. “I didn’t know he was picking out your bouquet.”
“He didn’t. I picked mine out myself,” she said, looking over at the white roses on the counter. There was no way she was using them now. She was carrying the blue ones down the aisle.
“What does the card say?” her mother asked.
“Give me a second.” She opened it up and read it first, felt her eyes fill, then read it again out loud. “When it’s time for hearts and flowers they should be bold and vibrant just like my future wife.”
“Oh my God,” Angela said. “I had no clue he was so romantic.”
“Neither did I,” Meena said back. “Mom. I’m carrying these down the aisle if you want to find a place for the other one.”
“Don’t worry about it. I think these flowers are more your style anyway.”
Her wedding dress was understated for her style, she knew, but she wasn’t the type to wear ballroom or bling. She went with something very fitted to her body and covered in lace. Almost old school. It made her mother happy but made her heart sing when she saw herself in the dress for the first time. That’s when she knew it was the one.
“Let’s finish up with your hair before the rest of the girls get here,” Angela said.
Meena sat back down for Angela to do what she did best.
A few hours later, Meena was walked down the aisle by her father, then had her veil lifted for everyone to see.
Her hair was arranged away from her face with large loose curls cascading down her back.
“You just take my breath away,” Troy said.
“I’d say the feeling is mutual. No comment on my hair?” she whispered.
“Stunning,” he said, his eyes a little moist. “But you always look that way regardless of the color of your hair.”
She’d gone back to her natural color like she’d always said she would. It’d been so long since she’d been a blonde. She thought for sure she would think it’d look plain and boring. Instead she felt like she was shining.
“I think it looks pretty good myself,” she said, then glanced down at the flowers in her hand. “Speaking of stunning.”
“I knew you’d love them.”
“Not as much as I love you.”
Brian was standing next to Troy and cleared his throat. “Can you two finish your lovey kissy words after the ceremony? Some of us would like to get this show on the road.”
Troy laughed. “Don’t be jealous, Brian. Your day will come.”
“Until then, I’d like to see my sister marry my best friend.”
“Your sister would like to see that too!” Meena said to the laughter of everyone in the church.
The End!
Want to read more of the Love Collection?
Secret Love:
Vin Steele has always been in control. Always been a leader. Failing at what he always did was a bitter pill for him to swallow, sending him into an isolation…of sorts. A new life and a new career, trying to find the person he lost.
Piper Fielding spent her life putting on a good face. Looking for the positive in the light of all the negative in her world. When a threat forces her to face the ugliness she always avoided, she finds herself running to the only person she can trust. Her sexy neighbor that has mystery and complications written all over him.
True Love:
Shattered dreams vs a new beginning. Can they help each other heal?
Jared Hawk thought he had it all. Until he didn’t. Until a bomb exploded bringing a building down around him and his unit, leaving him less than the man he was. Broken and disabled, he needed to figure out a new plan of action hoping to find a glimmer of the happiness he’d had before.
Shelby McDonald wanted a fresh start. A new life. She didn’t expect to be a single mother—a widow—at just twenty-three. She was strong enough to start over once, she could do it again. She had to. She had no choice. It may not have been the life she envisioned, but she’d be damned if anything was going to hold her back…including the sexy Navy Lieutenant trying to find his way again.
Finding Love:
What happens when a hopeless romantic falls for a cynical romance writer?
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Dr. Erik McMann had the love of his life...or so he thought. Until he found out it really didn’t exist like he imagined. Like he always dreamed. But now he wants to try again, and when he meets Sheldon, he decides she’s the one. If only he could convince her that what she’s believed her whole life is false.
Beach Love:
A reformed playboy. A woman looking for love. What happens when trust becomes an issue?
If you looked up privileged in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of Dr. Connor Landers, trust fund playboy extraordinaire. He loved having that title, but the real reason he was that way was something very few people knew. Then reality was shoved in his face and he had to make a choice.
Melissa Mahoney was looking for love in all the wrong places. How hard could it be to find someone to trust? Someone to give her what she’d been dreaming of? She takes a risk and puts her heart in Connor’s hands, but will he just end up shattering it like she’d been fearful of all along?
Intense Love
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Dr. Cameron Mason went into private practice so she could help the victims. She spends a lot of her time putting the accusers away. It’s what she thrives at. What she wants. What’s right. Until someone didn’t think it was so right and decided to silence her from ever helping others again.
After killing a teenager hopped up on heroin—that happened to be stabbing his partner—Detective Ian Price is mandated to get released by the city shrink. He wants to get in, get his release and get out. Until he sees she’s being victimized herself. Now he must go undercover in his most dangerous assignment yet. The threat isn’t just for his safety or his sanity, but also his
Autumn Love
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Ali Rogers’s life is falling down around her. She’s in debt up to her ears. Her mother is selling the family business that should have gone to her and the sexy new owner has his eye on her. Only, there is nothing she can do about it because she is losing her mind. How else does she explain all the conversations she’s having with her deceased grandfather?
Holiday Love
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Christmas Love
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Veterinarian Chase Martin has always gotten along better with animals than people. So when a sexy woman who looks like she just walked out of a fashion magazine shows up at his clinic offering to volunteer to take pictures of the dogs for his rescue shelter, he finds what should have been a great idea turning into uncharted territory for them both. Now he is wondering how he got so lucky...or is it more how unlucky he’s always been?
Winter Love
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Zeke Collins has never known anything other than working at the family lodge his whole life. Now he and his sister own and operate it and he’d have it no other way. Lake Placid is where he wants to be. It’s where his heart is and nothing could make him move. Not even the bewitching stranger with sorrowful eyes and adventure driving her course. The question is...can he change her mind?